This guide provides a comprehensive guide on building a DIY in-ground hot tub, covering all the steps from start to finish. It emphasizes the importance of collaborating with a seasoned professional designer when designing your inground spa. A stand-alone inground spa can be built without a swimming pool, but it requires a significant investment. If you have the funds and want to build a quality inground hot tub yourself, this tutorial is for you.
To prepare a base for the inground spa, fill the bottom of the hole with a minimum of ¾” clear stone. This ensures that any water splashes from the spa and the pool is protected. In-ground spas can be custom-built to fit your specific design and size requirements, either built into the ground as a stand-alone spa or integrated into an in-ground concrete pool.
The guide covers the construction process of building an in-ground hot tub in five easy steps. Step one is to designate the site, which can be done by digging a cavity for the spa to be lowered into. For a more cost-effective option, consider purchasing a conventional above-ground hot tub, placing it on a concrete slab, and building a multi-level deck around it.
📹 Build Your Own Spa Robinson
What is an in ground spa called?
In ground spas are permanent, built-in units, while portable spas, or hot tubs, can be physically moved and built into various locations such as decks, gazebos, or patios. They are self-contained, with built-in plumbing and can be sunken into the ground for a more permanent look. Portable tubs can be easily drained and covered for unuse, with a spa vault used for sunken or “50/50” installations. Serviceability after installation is crucial, as it ensures the tub is installed correctly, safely, and enhances surrounding aesthetics.
Proper ventilation is also essential for the success of a spa. In summary, there are several differences between in-ground and portable spas, with in-ground spas being permanent and built-in, while portable spas can be easily moved and drained.
Is a sunken hot tub a good idea?
A sunken hot tub is a convenient and less space-consuming option for outdoor decks due to its recessed body onto the deck’s flooring. It requires minimal reinforcing and is suitable for older wooden decks. However, it must be accessible for service, and it’s crucial to work closely with your hot tub dealer to ensure proper access. Sunken hot tubs are subtle and may not alter the overall arrangement of your outdoor deck or be cumbersome to its integrity. Investing in a sunken hot tub is a wise decision, especially if you work with the best hot tub store in Jamison, PA or the best hot tub provider in Chester County, PA.
What is the best foundation for a spa?
To install a new hot tub on an existing deck, ensure the structure can bear the spa’s weight. Consider using an existing patio, concrete slab, crushed gravel, paver stones, or a prefabricated pad. A stable installation requires a solid foundation, avoiding grass or dirt as the base. An additional foundational layer is needed for a good hot tub installation, ensuring the spa can support the weight of the spa. Once installed, enjoy relaxing soaks with jet massages.
How deep does hot tub wiring need to be buried?
It is advisable to consult the local building code in order to ascertain the requisite depth of the conduit trench, which may be as much as 18 inches. The trench should then be dug using a shovel.
Can you build a spa into the ground?
Sapphire Spa offers above ground spa pools and swim spas that can function like inground swimming pools with proper planning. Building a deck around an above ground portable spa pool can reduce the cost of digging a pool into your backyard. The increasing demand for spas has led to a wide variety of models and ranges to meet the needs of modern users. Outdoor spas are often seen as the perfect complement to existing inground pools, and in some cases, inground spas are installed in small backyards in place of an actual pool. Inground hot tubs or spas are like having a heated pool that can be used all year round, making them an enjoyable option for relaxing in comfort on cold winter days.
How deep should an inground spa be?
To fully enjoy a spa, it’s recommended to choose a spa with an average depth of 31-40 inches, but even shallow options between 30 and 34 inches are acceptable. Some of the best models are 33 inches deep with two back massages, a single lounger, a cornerback massage, and a Shiatsu massage seat. To fully relax, submerge your neck and shoulders in the water to feel jet sprays. Tall people need more room for long legs and extra height, so a spa lounger is the best fit.
How much value does a spa add to a home?
Installing a swim spa in your backyard may not directly increase your home’s sale price, but it can make life more enjoyable and potentially lead to a faster sale in the future. In-ground spas may not directly impact your home’s sale price, but buyers are more excited about homes with unique features like spas. Poorly maintained or non-functioning spas can hurt your home’s value. Endless pools are unique and fresh, making them stand out on the property market.
They can also be used for year-round exercise, making them a popular choice for homeowners. Therefore, it is not advisable to buy and install a swim spa for the purpose of increasing your home’s resale value.
How long do outdoor spas last?
A well-maintained hot tub can last 10-20 years, depending on the quality of materials used. Sundance® Spas are known for their durability and performance. Factors affecting longevity include regular maintenance, such as proper water care, routine cleaning, and timely servicing of components like filters and pumps. Additionally, the frequency and intensity of use play a crucial role. A hot tub used sparingly and following recommended guidelines may last longer than one subjected to heavy daily use.
How much does it cost to build an outdoor spa?
In-ground hot tubs are more expensive than above-ground ones, with an average cost of $5, 000 to $15, 000, plus $1, 000 to $6, 000 for installation. This includes preparing the space, often requiring excavation, and adding more for decking or other materials. In addition to the hot tub itself, you’ll also need a separate heating system, which can come from electric, propane, or natural gas heat. Estimates suggest that an in-ground hot tub can add $20 to $40 to your electric bill each month. In-ground hot tubs are similar to the pricing for pools, with additional costs for preparation and surrounding materials.
Do you need a concrete slab for a spa?
The best base for a hot tub is a reinforced concrete slab at least 100mm thick, which provides an even, level surface free from cracks or hollows. For a swim spa, the best base is 150mm thick. Ensure the base is even and level, free from cracks, doming, or hollows, and finish with a perfectly flat screed. A certified concreter is essential for this, as they are familiar with all these requirements.
For spa pools up to 3500mm in length, a minimum 100mm thick concrete slab base and one layer of steel reinforcing mesh is recommended. For swim spas (4000mm+ in length), a minimum 150mm thick concrete slab and two layers of steel reinforcing mesh is recommended.
What is the best base for a spa?
Concrete slabs are a popular choice for hot tub foundations due to their durability, strength, and ease of installation. Other frequently utilized alternatives include crushed gravel, patio stones, paver stones, decking, and spa pads.
📹 How to build a DIY Hot Tub – Step by step tutorial. I cover it all!
In this video I am going to show you how to build a DIY Hot Tub, from start to finish. I cover everything you will need to know about …
Nice. That design could be adapted to whatever setting you want. Like an in-ground hot tub but equipment I assume is reachable on one side. I’d be afraid of the inevitable November night that my water freezes & breaks the PVC lines hidden in between. I bet you accounted for that, though. I dug a hole & threw my portable hot tub in it, which then leaked & gave me all kinds of mechanical grief. It will be in that grave forever, because I shoveled the dirt on top & left it.
If it works well, I’d say this addition to the home would add twenty thousand dollars to the value of the home. The concrete work is do-able by the advanced home improvement guy. The plumbing is not difficult but has to be done right in order to avoid leaks and for the pump to work as planned. Overall, this is a giant improvement over spending eight thousand dollars on a fiberglass piece of shit that might last four years.
This guy is brilliant, he knows his stuff, a year and a half ago he helped me upgrade my new hot tub to a heat pump which made it stupidly cheap to run when compared to the standard internal heater, it’s already paid for itself with how much it’s used! 😅 I did it all myself with his instructions and I learnt allot. 👍
Hi Andy. Thank you for making your Youtube website. It is a wealth of information. I’m on a mission to convert an old oak whiskey barrel into a hot tub. I’m trying to do it as environmentally friendly as possible so I’m figuring out how to convert my exercise bike to power a heating element that will be inside the barrel. With the barrel being so small how many jets would you recommend? Kind regards, Jim.
I’m a french floor tiler and I’ve seen many articles to create my hot tub. This one is the best I’ve found so far. Thanks very much for your advices, Every steps is detailed, clear and understandable (even for a french ;). Let’s follow your advice, step 1 : draw the plan of my future hot tub. Eventually, I’ll get in touch with you if I can’t find a solution in one of your articles. Thanks again for sharing. Mat
We purchased a large above ground spa for our RV park. The salesman sold it as a commercial spa. When the county health inspector showed up he shut it down because it was not a “commercial spa”. I guess the issue is that the filtration system won’t handle the number of bodies in it. So I was wondering if we could connect it into the pools system. I would think water from the pool system could be pumped in and then flow to the pool? This would then not be a true spa at higher temperature, but that would be better than no spa. Or could temp be higher if heated water went directly to spa then the pool. Your thoughts. Right now the investment is wasted. The inspector seems to think a commercial spa has to be inground.
I pulled my old tub (30 years old) a few years back and I still have everything that goes with it. There is a well done 94″x94″x6″ concrete slab, dedicated power box with 20amp/120v and 30amp/240v gfci breakers and a lockable cage around it. I figured if I’m already half way there so it might motivate me to do the project. Otherwise I was going to remove the cage fill in the hot tub hole in the deck when i resurface. Seems like a waste. Does this sound like a good start for a cinder block tub? Also, I was curious if the tub needs 120v and 240v, I wanted to use the 120v breaker for a near by mini-split. The feed from the main panel is 240v 40amp. Is that enough? I’ll have to check and see if they used bigger than 8-gauge wire.